Pneumatic despatch system



May 5, 1931.

B. c. BATcHl-:LLER PNEUMATIC DESPTH SYSTEI( Fiied'Nov.

1, 1928 2 sheets-snee; 1

Lgf

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flA 1 B. C. lBATCH ELLER PNEUMATIC DESPATCH SYSTEM Filed Nov. `l, 1928 May 5, 1931,

Patented May 5, 1931 Urrrsn srarss ,mi'rslvr OFFICE.

EIRNEY BATCHELLER, OF WALLINGFORD, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAMSON COLI- PANY, 0F SYR-ACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS PNEUMATIG DESPATCH SYSTEM Application filed November 1, 1928. Serial No. 316,391.

rlhis invention pertains to pneumatic despatch systems and more particularly to means for automatically starting and stopping the 'liow of air in a pneumatic tube line. In order bo econcmize power in the operation of a pneumatic despatch system it is desirable to cut oil the air liow through the tube line when the latter is idle, that is to say, when no carare 1iassing through it. Various dees have been yproposed for accomplishing s result. In `some arrangements the air [low is cnt oil or short circuited by actuation of a valve, while in others the blower fan or ffhor air impelling means is stopped and ted at the proper times. The automatic control oi" such valve or oi the air impeliing means, has been accomplished in many ways as, for example, by the action of detectors responsive to differences in pressure in or velocity of the air in the tube line, or by the operation of parts mechanically or electrically actuated by the carrier as the latter enters or emerges from the tube. While many such automatically controlled devices are theoretically operative, itis found in practice that some of these devices, at least, are so delicate in operation, and complex in construction as to require constant attention for adjustment or repair, while devices of this character are orten expensive to build and install. V

In the operation of a pneumatic tube systcm itis customary to assign to each sending station a certain number of carriers which,

sitter being despatched from the` station, are ultimately returned to the sending point, and in accordance with the present invention I take advantage of this fact and provide simple, reliable, and relatively inexpensive means which responds to the presence of a carrier,

or a predetermined number of carriers at al given station, to cut olf the air fiow through the system. as, for example, by stopping the power driven air impellingl fan blower or the like, such means likewise responding to removal of a carrier, or a selected number. of carriers from the sending station Vto initiate operation of the power driven airimpelling means.

This responsive means may, if desired, be

tical; to special configuration of a carrier ,'to

the weight of the carrier,or in fact, to any other desired characteristic.

For convenience in illustration I have chosen to disclose an embodiment of the invention wherein the'removal of a carrier from normal idle position results in closing an electricalcircuit'whereby the power driven fan or blower is started, but the invention is not l necessarily limited to. such embodiment or the employment of electrical devices, since in its broader aspects pneumatic or mechanical connections may control the operation of the power driven means.

Preferably I provide signal means, for example, a lamp which is lighted as'soon as the air impelling means is set 'into operation, thus indicating to the operator'thatthe system is in operative condition ready for the despatch. of a carrier, and at the same time warning the operator if, for any reason, the air impe-lling device remainsin operation too long. y

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated certainV desirable embodiments of the invention by way of example, and in the drawings; Y

Fig. l is a diagrammatic side elevation,

' partly in vsection and to small scale, showing Eil directly to the arrival ot carriers at the delivery terminal; and

Fig. (5 is a vertical section, to larger scale, showing details of a slightly modified control device of the general type illustrated in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and designate, respectively, Jfragmentary portions et desks or other suitable means to support the terminal devices oiI a pneumatic despatch system. T he parts 1 and 2 are disposed at spaced stations ot such a system, for example, the central station and a remote sending station ot a store service line, although the invention is not in any way limited to the character ot the transactions performed by the pneumatic despatch system or to the character of the stations at which the terminals are arranged.

A tube 3 having a despatch terminal 4 leads trom the station 1 to a delivery terminal 5 at the station 2 and at the latter station a despatch terminal a gives access to a return tube (i having a delive-ry terminal 7 at the station 1. An extension 8 of the tube 6 leads to an exhaust blower 9 driven by an electric motor 10. VThis motor receives electrical energy from power lines 11 and 12 and is controlled by means of a magnetic switch 18 of known type.

Suitable receptacles 14; and 15, tor example boxes or baskets, are arranged beneath the delivery terminals 5 and 7 respectively to receive the carriers discharged therefrom. In accordance with the present invention, either or both ot the receptacles 14 and 15 may be of a special type hereinafter more fully described.

.it one ot the stations, for example the sta tion 2, l provide a holder or receptacle 1G tor the reception of the idle carriers. This recept aclc may be designed to hold a single carrier or a plurality of carriers as preferred. As here disclosed (Fig. the receptacle 1G has a plurality o'i' compartments 16, each adapted to hold a single carrier disposed substairtir-.llvY verticalty. The receptacle 1G (Figs. 2 and 3) is provided with a bracket 18 corresponding to each compartment 16, and each bracket supports a lever 19. The com partments 16a are open at their bottoms and each lever 19 has an arm 2O disposed at the lower end ot the corresponding compartment 1Ga in such a position as to form a support tor a carrier 17 within the compartment. Each lever 19 is provided with an outstandu ing arm having an electrical contactl L1 which is adapted at times to engage a complemental contact 22. The contacts 21 and 22 are connected to wires 2-1 and 23 respectively, and these wires lead to the magnetic switch 13, the latter being so designed that when the contacts 21 lind 22 engage cach other, thereby completing an electrical circuit, the switch 123 operates and causes the motor 1() to start. Normally, when a carrier 17 rests upon the arm 2() ot the leve-r 19,the arm 2O is depressed, thus raising the contact 21 out ot engagen'ient with the contact 22 and breaking the circuit. As here shown, the lever 19 is provided with an adjustable weight 25 which tends to swing` the lever so as to bring the contact 21 into engagement with the Contact but in place ot a weight it 'is obvious that a suitable spring may be provided. Preferably a stop 2G is disposed beneath the arm 20 ot the lever to prevent undue downward movement oit' the latter when a carrier is placed in the compartnient. Yith this arrangement the weight ot the carrier in the receptacle keeps the contacts 21 and separated, but when the carrier is removed from tae receptacle, the contacts automatically engage, thus completingl the circuit and causing the motor to start.

lVhile the type of receptacle just described may be employed at both stations, l may, iii desired, employ a di lerent type ot receptacle at the station 1, as shown for example in detail in Fig. al. This second type ot' receptacle 28 is provided with one or more compartments in the same way as the receptacle 1G, but in this instance these compartments arr` closed at their lower ends. The receptacle supports a pivoted lever 31 corresponding to each compartment 29, each lever having an arm 32 adapted to project through a slot 325 in the side ot the receptacle and to be engaged by a carrier 3 disposed within the compartment. Each lever 31 carries a contact 34 adapted to engage a Contact i5 to close a circuit through wires 3G and 37 which are connected to the wires 23 and 24 respectively. The levers 31 may be counterweighted in the same way as the levers 19, or may be provided with springs, it' preferred. Normally these levers tend to swing` so as to project their arms 32 into the compartments in the receptacle and to cause their contacts i-i. to engage with the corresponding contacts C35. lVhen a carrier 39 is placed in a coinpartment` the lever arm is pushed out and held in this position so long as the carrier remains in the compartment and while so positioned the contact 311 is spaced 'from the Contact ihen the carrier is removed the circuit is closed through the switch 13 and the motor 10 is started.

if desired the receptacles 14 and 15 which receive the carriers discharged trom the. rcsnective delivery terminals may be of another type as disclosed in detail in :'i and (i. Thus in Fig. the receptacle 14 is ot box-like character and adapted to hold several carriers and is placed imnie= l'iateiy hclow the delivery terminal 5. rllhc receptacle 14 has a talse. bottom 39 which is hinged at 40 and which is urged to swing upwardly by means of a spring 41. A pin projects downwardly from a bottom member 39 and is provided at its lower end with a metallic plug 42 which is adapted, when the bot-tom member 39 swings upwardly, to engage a pair 0i' spaced resilieiitcontacts 43 and 44, and thus to 4complete an electrical circuit through wires 45 and 46 connected'to the wires 23 and 24 above described. The spring 41 is of such strength Athat when a selected number of carriers, for example four, as here shown, is disposed within vthe receptacle 14,` the weight of such carriers holds the bottom member 39 down so that the plug 42 does not engage the contacts 43and 44. Whenever a carrier is removed from the receptacle, the spring 41 eievates the member 39 thus completing the circuit through the switch 13 and causing the motor 10 to start into operation. When the carrier thus removed from the receptacle 14 has been despatched to the sta` tion 1 and returned through the tube Spit is delivered 'through the terminal 5 into the receptacle 14 and unless other carriers have previously been removed the weight of the arriving carrier immediately depresses the member 39, thus breaking the circuitl vand causing the motor to stop.

In Fig. 6 a slightly different construction is shown, wherein the bottom member 39 of the receptacle 14 `rests upon a vertically sliding pin 49 mounted in an insulating bushing 50. A. spring 51 tends to elevate the member 39. The pin 49 is provided with a shank portion 52, preferably of smaller diameter, carrying armetallic plug 5,3, adapted when the pin is-elevated, to engage a pair of spring contacts'54 and 55, andV thus to close Vthe circuit through the wires 45 and 46. .Nor-

mally when afull complement of carriers is within the receptacle 14, the member 39 is depressed to the dotted .lineI position where the plug 53 no longer engages the contacts 54 and 55, but when one oiI more carriers are removed from the receptacle the member 39 raises the circuit is com ileted and the inaff- 7 2D notie switch 13 causes the motor 10 to start.

Preferably at each station I provide a signal device, as for example, the lamps 29 and 88, respectively, connected by suitable wiring to the magnetic switch 13, the latter being so designed that whenever it is energized to close the motor circuit, it also closes a circuit through the signal devices. Thus so long as the motor is in operation the signal lamps, or other devices are energiZed,-indi eating to the operatorfthat power is being used. l

Preferably/.the wires leading from the sev eral receptacles 14, 16, 28, etc., are provided with controlling switches 47, 48, and'a. respectively, so that if desiredany ofthese devices may be rendered temporarily'inoperative. Thus, for example, at the station 2, either or both of the receptacles l4'and 16 may be usedas desired. `When both of these receptacles are employed a predetermined complement of carriers is assigned to each receptacle. -Ifnow a carrier be removed from a receptacle 14, the motor will be started into operation and will remain in operation until suoli carrier has been restored to the receptacle 14, the restoration of the carrier to the receptacle being dependent in this instanceonly upon its delivery from the terminal 5. On the lother hand,if a carrier be removed from a receptacle 16, the return oi such carrier to the receptacle 14 will have no eiect upon the operation of the motor, which vill continue to run until the operator has picked up the carrier and manually restored it to the receptacle 16. It more than one carrier be removed from a given station and transmitted through the line, the motor will continue to operate until the entire number ot carriers thus removed and despatched has beenreturned to the sending station and restored to the receptacle from which it was taken. Since the several types of receptacles herein described are of generally, interchangeable character, it is possible to use one or more types Vat each station in accordance with the requirements of each individual installation, and while I have herein disclosed certain desirable embodiments of controlling means,yI wish it to be understood that the invention is not necessarily.

limited to vthe precise details herein disclosed,but that changes in shape, size and arrangement ofparts as well as the substitution of equivalents may be made without departing `from the spirit of the invention.

. I claim 1. Power control apparatus for use with a pneumatic tube line extending between two stations and having power driven means for creating a carrier impelling air flow in said line, said apparatus comprising a receptacle capable of holding a plurality of carriers,

`a movablelpart in the receptacle which re- Vmains in one position so long as a predetermined number of carriers are Within the receptacle, means operative to raise said part upon reduction of the number of carriers in' the receptacle below suoli predetermined number, and means responsive to such upward movement of said part for starting the power driven means into operation.

2. Power control apparatus for use with a pneumatic despatch system having spaced stations, aV tube line connecting them, and means for creating carrier impelling air flow in said line, said tube line having a delivery terminal at one station at least, a receptacle into which carriers arriving throughsaid terminal are delivered and come to rest, and means responsive to the weight of a predetermined number of carriers in said receptacle for stopping carrier impelling air flow 1n the line, said means remaining inoperative so long as less than such predetermined number of carriers is in the receptacle.

3. Power control apparatus for use with a pneumatic tube line extending between two stations and having power driven means for creating a carrier impelling air flow in said line, said apparatus comprising means responsive to the removal of a carrier from a predetermined idle position at one of said '-,tations for actuating a signal device.

el, Power control apparatus for use with a pneumatic tube line extending between two stations and having power driven means for creating a carrier impelling air flow in said line, said apparatus comprising means for actuating a signal device so long as said power driven means is in operation.

5. Power control apparatus for use with a pneumatic tube line extending between two stations and having power driven means for creating a carrier impelling air iiow in said line, said apparatus comprising means for actuating a signal device so long as a carrier impelling air current flows in the line.

G. Power control apparatus for use with a pneumatictube line extending between two stations and having power driven means Vfor creating a carrier impelling air flow in said line, said apparatus comprising means responsive to removal of a carrier from a predetermined idle position at one of said stations for simultaneously starting said power actuated means and actuating a signal device.

i 7. Power control apparatus for use with a pneumatic tube line extending between two stations and having power driven means for creating a carrier impelling air flow in said line, said apparatus comprising a receptacle capable oi holding a plurality of carriers, a movable part in the receptacle upon which the plurality7 of carriers rest, a predetermined nxnnber of such carriers moving said part into one position` means operative when less than the predetermined number Vof carriers are in the receptacle to move the part into another position, and means responsive to said last movement -for starting the operation ot the power driven means.

8. Power control apparatus for use with a pneumatic tube iine extending between two stations and having power driven means for creating a carrier impelling air iow in said line, said apparatus comprising a receptacle capable ot holding a plurality oi carriers, a movable false bottom in the receptacle upon which the plurality of carriers rest, a predetermined number of carriers moving the false b ttom into one position, means operative when less than the predetermined number of carriers are in the receptacle to move the false bottoni into another position and means responsive to said last movement for starting the operation of the power driven means.

9. Power control apparatus for use with-a pneumatic tube'line extending between two stations and having power driven means for creating a carrier impelhng an' flow in said line, said apparatus comprising a receptacle capable oi holding a plurality of carriers, a false bottom hinged in the receptacle upon which the plurality of carriers rest, a predetermined number of carriers swinging the false bottom on its hinges into one position, a spring normally opposing such movement of the false bottom and operative, when less than the predetermined number ot carriers are in the receptacle, to swing the 'false bottoni into another position and means responsive to said last movement for starting the operation of the power driven means.

l0. Power control apparatus 'for use with a pneumatic despatch system having spaced stations and a pneumatic tube line extending between two stations, con'iprising mechanism for creating a carrier impelling air ilow in said line, a delivery terminal in said tube line at one station at least, a receptacle into which carriers arriving through said terminal are delivered, and means for start-ing and stopping the operation of the low creating mechanism, said means being responsive to the removal of a carrier from the receptacle Vtor starting such operation.

ll. Power control apparatus for use with a pneumatic despatch system having space-d stations and a pneumatic tube line extendin between two stations, comprising mechanism for creating a carrier impelling air 'How in said line, a delivery terminal in said tube line at one station at least, a receptacle into which carriers arriving through said terminal are delivered, and means for starting and stopping the operation of the flow creating mechanism, said means being responsive to the removal of a carrier from the receptacle :tor starting such operation and responsive to the delivery of a carrier to the receptacle for stopping such operation.

l2. Power control apparatus for use with a pneumatic despatch system having spaced stations and a pneumatic tube line extending between two stations, comprising.;` mechanisn for creating a carrier imi'ielling air iiow in said line, a delivery terminal in said tube line at one station at least, a receptacle into which carriers arriving through said terminal are delivered, a signal device, and means for rontrolling said device and for starting and stopping the operation of the i'iow creating mechanism said means being responsive to the removal of a carrier from the receptacle :ter starting said signal device and such opera 13. Power control apparatus for use with a pneumatic despatch system having spaced stations and a pneumatic tube line extendin between two stations, comprising` mechanism for creating a carrier impelling air flow in said line, a delivery terminal in said tube line at one station at least, a receptacle into which Harriers arriving through said terminal are delivered, a signal device, and means for controlling said device and for starting and stopping the operation of the flow creating mechanism said means being responsive to the removal of a carrier from the recepaele for n starting said signal device and such oper-V ation, and responsive to the delivery of a carrier to the receptacle for stopping said signal device and such operation. Signed by me at Wallingford, Vermont, this twenty-fifth day of October, 1928.

BIRNEY C. BATCHELLER. 

